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OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. - On Dec. 28, Squaw Valley celebrated the grand opening of Big Blue Express, the resort's newest chairlift, with a contribution to the Tahoe Fund. In honor of the new chairlift and in support of the company's ongoing commitment to the community and environmental stewardship, Squaw Valley auctioned off three of the resort's top athletes plus the resort's CEO to the highest bidder - with all funds benefiting the Tahoe Fund.-

Combined, guests' bids for Jonny Moseley, JT Holmes, Cody Townsend and Squaw CEO Andy Wirth raised $2,250 for the Tahoe Fund. Squaw Valley matched and extended the donation, meaning a total of $5,000 was donated to the Tahoe Fund.

"It was a terrific day here at Squaw Valley to celebrate this already very popular new high-speed chairlift," said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows and Tahoe Fund Board member. "The name, Big Blue Express, was inspired by the terrific views of Lake Tahoe, sometimes called Big Blue, along with the extensive intermediate - 'blue' - terrain it serves. We felt it was fitting to drive a donation to the Tahoe Fund in conjunction with the celebration around this great new chairlift."

The mission of Tahoe Fund is to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin by building broad support and funding for projects and programs that increase the enjoyment of the region for current and future generations. The Fund focuses grants on the core areas of conservation, recreation and education/stewardship.

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows joined forces in November 2011, bringing the two ski resorts under common ownership. For more information visit www.squaw.com,www.skialpine.com or call 1-800-403-0206.